No trip to Marrakech is complete without visiting its two most iconic landmarks: the Koutoubia Mosque and Jemaa el-Fna square. Just a short walk apart, they form the beating heart of the medina and together tell a thousand years of Moroccan history.
The Koutoubia, a masterpiece of Almohad architecture
Built in the 12th century by the Almohad dynasty, the Koutoubia Mosque towers over the city with its minaret standing roughly 77 metres tall, visible from nearly every corner of Marrakech. Its name is believed to come from the booksellers who once traded around its base. This minaret became the architectural blueprint for two other famous towers: the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat.
As with all mosques in Morocco, the interior is reserved for Muslim worshippers only. Non-Muslim visitors can still admire the building's intricate stonework from the surrounding gardens, a peaceful, palm- and orange-tree-lined space.
Jemaa el-Fna, a UNESCO-listed living square
Just a few steps away lies Jemaa el-Fna, recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. By day it hosts vendors, snake charmers and stalls selling freshly squeezed orange juice. As evening falls, it transforms: food stalls, storytellers, Gnaoua musicians and acrobats draw crowds into an electric atmosphere.
The best time to experience the square is around sunset. Both the Koutoubia and Jemaa el-Fna are just a 3-minute walk from Riad Dar Kawkawa riad, making it the perfect base for exploring these unmissable sites.